The publication launch was opened by Lukas Kupfernagel, Country Director of KAS Ethiopia / AU liaison office, who welcomed all the participants to the KAS office in Ethiopia. He also highlighted the work KAS is doing to foster dialogue and collaboration on key issues in the greater Horn of Africa region. In his opening remarks, Edgar Mwine, Project Officer at RP SIPODI East Africa, emphasised the role of research in advancing knowledge and understanding the dynamics of migration and displacement as well as shaping local approaches for addressing the drivers of migration. Niklas Mayer, Director of CRBi, thanked the researchers for their analysis and insights shared in each of the chapters of the publication. He also commended the cooperation with KAS, noting that this was the second publication on Migration in Ethiopia that KAS has supported, in successive years.
The publication is a product of research carried out in six different borderland regions of Ethiopia, including Afar, Benishangul-Gumuz, Gambella, Oromia, Somali, and Tigray on the drivers, dynamics and consequences of migration in the respective regions. Each of the six researchers presented their findings and recommendations. This was followed by a plenary discussion, reflecting on the drivers that are common between the different regions and the areas of collaboration in addressing them.
The findings presented revealed that whereas the challenges are unique to each region, they are interconnected in their broader implications on migration and displacement. The predominant drivers of migration across the regions were environmental vulnerability, socio-economic marginalisation of borderland areas, and ethnic tensions. From the plenary discussion, it was suggested that mitigating these drivers required a blended approach that integrates climate adaptation, strengthening governance to address ethnic conflicts, and socio-economic inclusion of borderland areas in broader development planning of the borderlands. In addition, modern agricultural practices that compliment traditional pastoral practices, and support for climate adaptation were also suggested.
Susan Natumanya, Project Officer of KAS RP SIPODI East Africa, gave the closing remarks in which she thanked all the participants for their contributions and urged policy makers to take up the recommendations suggested so as to make migrations more voluntary and driven by opportunity rather than adversity. The event was concluded with a reception that fostered further discussions and networking.
About this series
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